Trying a new approach to WI. Deer Hunting 45-70

I ordered a Henry 45-70 All Season lever action back in Dec. of 2016 and it arrived a few weeks ago.

I am getting tired of walking back to my old favorite Jack Pine which is a true 1.9 miles from our camp carrying one of my favorite heavy rifles used for shooting at distance only to end up with a short shot. But they are my favorites and I trust the complete system to get it done. It might be different if a person could use a ATV to go part of the way back but that can’t happen where we are, so yes time and age sneaks up a little and at 56 I’m still feeling kinda young it’s tricky enough trying to dress and stay cool on the walk in carrying a 18 lb rifle and yet staying warm till dark.

Thats where this light little lever action with enough fire power should work well if I move a little closer to the swamp edges and thick brush transition areas catching the deer traffic 100 yards and under.

I think I’m going to like the 45-70 Henry, the lever action is smooth with an excellent hammer safety system and yes I’m going to like the tube feed, just like my Winchester 22 I had as a kid no safety issues loading that all those years.

Any thoughts on the 45-70 lever for deer or factory ammo pros and cons?

After spending tons of time perfecting a system to hit targets out to 3500 yards here I am wanting to kick back and enjoy some close up relaxation and with a light weight lever gun – open sights.

Cheers
JH

Pictured below my humbling moment this year in Raton New Mexico

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I’ve moved away from flat shooting rigs and long range fantasies. Yes, I’ve made some long range kills back when things were looser and land access wasn’t so tight. These days I thoroughly enjoy deer hunting with my old Winchester M71 in .348 Win caliber. It mows them down at real world deer hunting ranges. You’ll love hunting with that 45-70.

I have a friend who hunts with a BFR in .45/70. He somehow loves the gun…I’ve always been a fan of the caliber, just never owned one. I know it’s a huge difference in a lever gun vs a revolver, but that 7″ barrel is LOUD.

That’s a great cartridge and a lever gun in that caliber is a dandy “woods” gun. Congrats on your move in the direction you’ve chosen. Lever guns have a unique history in this country and that caliber earned its living on the plains but it’ll fit right in there in the Wisconsin woods.

They hand load very easy and with the bullets available today I’d be loading my own to get the most from the gun.

Here is a picture of my Marlin 1881 saddle gun in 45-70 built in 1884 so I have to use Government 45-70 shells. Out to 150 yards it is pretty darn accurate being I am not very good with open sights with my aging eye sight. It is fun to shoot with very little recoil it is more of a push versus a sharp recoil on modern firearms.

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Nice looking rifle Tom, I have just a slight double front pin with or without my glasses on. Probably a little better with them off. I still should be fine for aiming.

JH

What’s old is new and I’m with you, when it comes to rifle cartridges, you certainly can find happiness in something from the last century. Or the century before the last century, even. You’ll have a fine rifle to hunt with in that cartridge.

I’ve commented before that our forefathers accomplished everything with shockingly little firepower. Well, shockingly little by today’s standards, anyway. In this age where magnumitus has lain siege to such an extent, I sometimes believe the average whitetail hunter today believes a 300 Win Mag is the bare minimum starter cartridge for deer.

I’ve often thought about reviving a Remington Model 14 in the now obsolete 30 Remington. I thought that would make a fine starter cartridge if of course, I could find brass.

Grouse

One of my father’s uncles hunted the wi Northwoods nearly his entire life with a 45-70. Shot many deer with that rifle and most didn’t get very far from point of impact.

Looks like you’ll have a classic for the rest of your life

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

I’ve often thought about reviving a Remington Model 14 in the now obsolete 30 Remington. I thought that would make a fine starter cartridge if of course, I could find brass.

It’s a ton of work, but I do know a guy who trims .30-30 rims, rips a groove and fire forms. Make 40 and you’re set for quite a while.

Shot a deer with a 45/70 Marlin with factory loads and it just pole-axed him. 75yd shot, broadside hit with 300gr Winchester Super-X, dead center in the lungs.

Like a dummy, I bought a Ruger #1 in that caliber and was hot-loading a 300gr bullet with RL-7. Beat the dog manure clean out of me and shook my eye teeth loose. Wore my padded Highpower jacket and was still thoroughly brutalized. Did the logical thing and had my gunsmith rebarrel it to 375 Winchester, sort of a mini-45/70. Pain went away

If you now have your 45/70, look at toying with flat-nose hard-cast boolits and using Unique powder for low-velocity thumper loads (wadding NOT required). They will still blow through any whitetail that walks and won’t make your eyes bleed when you turn them loose.

little late on this one….. I have a model 1884 merlin 45 -70 and I absolutely love this cartridge! smoked a black bear with hornandy 275gr and the penetration is next to none! beside my sw.460 this is my favorite round!
Great purchase!!!